Residents Cry Out Over Invasion By Land Speculators

RESIDENTS of Olorunda, Oke-Ore and Ajibawo communities, in Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State have raised alarm over incessant attacks, threat to life and imminent killing of innocent people by some land grabbers popularly called Ajagungbale, who invaded the community.

They therefore appealed to the state governor, Ibikunle Amosun to as a matter of utmost urgency rescue them before they’ll be dispossessed of their landed properties and belongings.

Some of the landlords, who do not want their names mentioned said the Ajagungbales, allegedly sponsored by one Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye have been terrorising communities around the area with the aid of some officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and thugs in military uniforms.

They claimed that on January 18, 2015, the hooligans, who came in their large numbers, invaded the communities and kidnapped the Iyalode of Oke-Ore community and 15 young men, though the Iyalode was released few days after, the young men are yet to be released.

When they invaded the area last December, according to the residents, it was the urgent intervention of the Area Commander of the Owode Police Command, who sent his men to chase them that saved the hapless residents.

At present, some of the residents and landlords have deserted the communities for fear of being attacked.

Speaking on the situation, a landlady told The Guardian that Owoeye is laying claim to the ownership of 21 communities, which include Ose, Ajibawo, Alapoti, Olorunda, Oke-Ore and many others, he alleged to have won via a court ruling.

“They have been terrorising our people with thugs, they have been robbing, raping and maiming our people. Our children are no more safe, Amosun should do something urgent now to assist us before they kill all of us,” she said.

When contacted on phone, denied the allegation of sponsoring anybody to inflict hardship on the people. He claimed that he won the ownership of the communities with valid documents, which he later forwarded to The Guardian.

He noted that he has no gun nor terrorist group to attack any community, adding that one of his workers had been kidnapped by the people, while some are lying critically in hospital after they were attacked.